Lactose intolerance is characterized by an inability to properly digest the milk sugar lactose. Lactose is a disaccharide, which means that it contains two sugars, glucose and galactose, attached together. In order to properly digest lactose, your body must break it down into these two sugars.
Physiology
Normally, your small intestine produces an enzyme called lactase. When you consume lactose, lactase breaks down the sugar and makes it possible for your body to absorb and digest it. In hereditary lactose intolerance, a baby is born without the ability to produce lactase. As a result, lactose travels through the digestive system in its full form. When it reaches the bacteria in the large intestine, the bacteria feed on the sugar and produce gases as a byproduct. These gases are responsible for the symptoms of lactose intolerance.
Congenital Lactose Intolerance
Congenital lactose intolerance is a hereditary form of lactose intolerance. The condition is referred to as an autosomal recessive condition, which means that both parents must pass down the defective gene in order for the child to become affected by the condition. Although it is possible for babies to be born with congenital lactose intolerance, it is very rare. These babies cannot tolerate any lactose and experience diarrhea when consuming their mother's breast milk.
Symptoms
When someone with lactose intolerance consumes foods that contain lactose, they may experience abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, nausea and gas. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on the amount of lactose consumed and the amount that can be tolerated. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse notes that symptoms usually begin within 30 minutes to 2 hours after consuming lactose.
Treatment
There is no way to facilitate the production of lactase in the small intestine in someone with congenital lactose intolerance. The only way to prevent symptoms is to avoid foods that contain lactose, such as milk, yogurt, ice cream and cheese. Processed foods often contain lactose as a preservative, so it is important to check labels to ensure that you are not consuming lactose. Common processed sources of lactose include bread, pastries, breakfast cereals, chips, processed meats, margarine, salad dressing, non-dairy creamers and protein bars.
